Gaston officers work jobs off the clock

Sunday

Oct 7, 2018 at 12:20 PMOct 7, 2018 at 2:26 PM

It's not unusual to see local law enforcement, fresh off a 12-hour shift on local roads, working another job on their days off.

Officers in Gaston County are given the opportunity to make extra money working any number of off-duty assignments or secondary employment. They're present at football games, in shopping centers during the holiday season and blocking roads during 5Ks.

"The church, a hospital, the school system or a one-day flea market that wants an officer there because there will be money present, you never know what we might get asked to do," Gaston County Police Capt. Curtis Rosselle said.

Representatives from the Gastonia Police Department, Gaston County Police Department and Gaston County Sheriff's Department provided details on how its officers earn money outside their shifts, rules they have to follow and the places they typically serve.

Gastonia Police Department

Gastonia police officers are typically paid $25 an hour for off-duty work, though they're allowed to negotiate that pay rate with an employer, according to department spokeswoman Donna Lahser.

Gastonia Police officers can't work jobs that involve collecting debts, according to a department policy sheet Lahser provided. They can't work inside or outside establishments that serve alcohol, with exceptions being made to the Gastonia Convention Center or city-approved events.

Officers can't work off-duty while taking sick leave or on limited, light or restricted duty or under suspension from regular duty. They can't work as private investigators for civil actions or criminal investigation for a private employer, and they can't work as a bail bondsman.

They must wear their uniform and bulletproof vest and must carry a firearm. They can't work more than 16 hours per day.

Businesses that employ Gastonia Police officers include area schools, apartment complexes, retail stores including Belk, Best Buy, Dillards and Walmart, restaurants including Hickory Tavern, Hooters, On the Border, Waffle House and Wild Wing Cafe. They've also been hired for gigs at churches, for paving companies, Kate's Skating Rink, Gaston Country Club, the Gastonia Grizzlies, Kedplasma and private residents.

Between May 2016 and April 30, 2018, they collectively worked more than 57,000 hours off-duty.

Gaston County Police

County officers are allowed to work extra-duty assignments that concern traffic and crowd control, security, routine law enforcement for public authorities, plainclothes assignments and other tasks that present no conflict of interest between officers and a secondary employer.

They aren't allowed to serve people with lawsuits or work as a bill collector, provide personal investigation that requires use of police records or wear their uniform for tasks other than that of a police nature.

Officers must have at least six hours of rest before working their full-time jobs. There's no standard rate or salary for off-duty jobs, Rosselle said, though department policies dictate officers should be paid at least comparable to the base pay of newly-hired officers.

Any officer under good standing is eligible for these opportunities.

"We work the ER at the hospital, for example," Rosselle said. "Anybody at this department that's a sworn law enforcement officer can submit a request to work there."

Assistant Chief Darrell Griffin provided a list of locations where his off-duty deputies work. Their pay is subject to what an employer offers, but is typically between $20-$25 an hour, Griffin said.

Deputies work 50 hours per month at Mary Jo's Cloth Store, 30 hours per month at the Department of Motor Vehicles, 20 hours per month at Carolina Speedway, 20 hours per month at Webb Street School and at various churches when requested.

They also work other locations as requests come in.

You can reach Adam Lawson at 704-869-1842.

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